Illinois vs. August Spies et al. trial transcript no. 1. Direct examination by Mr. Grinnell. Testified on behalf of the Prosecution, People of the State of Illinois. Oscar Neebe gave him a copy of the "Revenge" circular on the evening of May 3, 1886. Testified on various topics (page numbers provide a partial guide): plans for warfare against the police and/or capitalists (vol.J 184), "Revenge" circular (vol.J 183), McCormick Reaper Works strike, meeting or riot (vol.J 184), Neebe, Oscar (vol.J 183).
Testimony of Franz Hein, 1886 July 23.
Volume J, 183-186, 4 p.
Hein, Franz.
Saloonkeeper.
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[Image, Volume J, Page 183]
Friday, July 23rd, 1886, 10 A. M.
FRANZ HEIN,
a witness produced on behalf of the People, after having been duly sworn, testified as follows:
DIRECT EXAMINATION
By Mr. Grinnell.
Q What is your name?
A Franz Hein.
Q Where do you live?
A I live now on Division and Franklin Street.
Q Did you keep a saloon, or were you a saloon keeper on May 3rd and 4th last?
A Yes, I was.
Q Are you a saloon keeper now?
A Yes.
Q Do you know Neebe, the defendant in this case?
A Yes, I know Mr. Neebe.
Q Did you see him in your saloon on Monday evening, May 3rd, 1886?
A Yes.
Q Did he show to you there anything?
A Yes.
Q Did he show to you that (handing witness "Revenge" circular)?
Objected to, objection overruled; to which ruling of the Court defendants by their counsel then and there duly excepted.
A Yes.
Q Look at that paper?
A Yes, I saw that. Mr. Neebe got it.
Q What, if anything, did Neebe do with it? What time in the evening was it, Mr. Hein?
A It must be between nine and ten.
Q In the evening of Monday, May 3rd?
A Yes.
Q The night before the bomb was thrown?
A Yes.
Q About how many of them did he have, do you think?
A I don't know how many he got; he laid some on the counter there, and I believe he laid some on the table there too.
Q How many people were in the place then?
A I cannot swear; there were about seven or eight people in there.
This testimony objected to on behalf of all the other defendants excepting Neebe; objection overruled; to which ruling of the Court defendants referred to by their counsel then and there duly excepted.
Q Did he say anything there about this circular?
A Yes, he came in and he showed me that thing, and he asked me if I heard something about the McCormick riot; and I said "Yes, I read it", and then he showed me that and he said it is a shame that the police act that way, but maybe the time comes that it goes the other way -- that they get a chance too; he was mad on account of that.
Q On account of what; what did he say about that?
A About the policemen on the West Side.
Q What did he say about the circular?
A He didn't say anything about the circular; he only showed me the circular there.
Q Did you look at it?
A Yes.
Q Did you read it?
A Yes.
Q Did you say anything to him about the contents of that circular?
A No, I didn't say anything to him.
Q Did he say anything about who printed them?
A He said, "That is just printed now"; at that time when he came in he said that.
Q You saw these words here (referring to "Revenge" circular)?
A Yes.
Q Was anything said about those words?
A Mr. Neebe was in about five or ten minutes; he drank a couple of beers and went out; he was in with another gentleman and they made some remarks, and they went from the counter to the table again. I was there, you know, and attended to business. I did not hear all that he said. He made some remarks about the riot on the West Side.
Q Was anything said by him to you about how many people had been killed, if any?
A I think he said six or seven; he didn't know how many; he said anyhow six or seven.
Q Did he say anything about blood having flown?
A He made some such remark as that.
Q Did he say anything about what was to happen? What did he say, if anything, on that subject?
A That is just what I said -- I cannot remember what he said; he told me, and then he said too that he was in the Brewer's meeting in Turner Hall, and that the society was a success, and they got the help from the brewers that they wanted, and he came there and got a circular, and he brought it there and left some there for me.
Q Use again the words as near as you can that he said in regard to this -- when he said that six of your brothers were killed and blood had flown?
A And then he said maybe some other time it comes that it goes the other way then.
Q What goes the other way?
A I don't know; that is the words that he mentioned.
Mr. GRINNELL: I want this "Revenge" circular introduced in evidence in connection with this witness's testimony.
Mr. BLACK: We move to strike out this witness's testimony in behalf of all of the defendants, and particularly in behalf of the seven other than Mr. Neebe.
Motion overruled; to which ruling of the Court the defendants referred to by their counsel then and there duly excepted.
No Cross-Examination.